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Thermodynamic limitations for alkali metals in Cu(In,Ga)Se2

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 October 2017

Dimitrios Hariskos  and
Michael Powalla
Dimitrios Hariskos*
Affiliation:
Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart 70563, Germany
Michael Powalla
Affiliation:
Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart 70563, Germany
*
a) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: dimitrios.hariskos@zsw-bw.de
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Abstract

The efficiency of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS)-based solar cells could be continuously increased up to 22.6% by employing alkali metal dopants like Na, K, Rb, and Cs. The alkali metals are supplied to the CIGS layer from the glass substrate during deposition, from precursor layers or by a post deposition treatment. The alkali metal distribution in CIGS is not homogenous. Independently of the alkali metals used, their concentration at grain boundaries is much higher than that inside the grains. In this contribution, we discuss thermodynamic limitations for alkali metals in CIGS and show that in higher concentrations they are responsible for secondary phase separation. Applying the concept of immiscibility of phases for alkali metals in CIGS, we suggest how segregation at grain boundaries, formation of clusters in CIGS grains, sporadic formation of microstructures in the CIGS layer (hotspots, nodules), and separation of secondary phases with ordered structures can be interpreted.

Keywords

photovoltaicthin filmsecond phases
Type
Invited Feature Paper
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 32 , Issue 20 , 27 October 2017 , pp. 3789 - 3800
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Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

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Footnotes

Contributing Editor: Gary L. Messing

This paper has been selected as an Invited Feature Paper.

References

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